An Australian study found that teens that eat a balanced breakfast with a variety of nutrients from different food groups show improved moods and behaviors.

Each time a child added a new choice from a different food group, he or she would score higher on tests for mood and behaviors on questionnaires completed by their parents, regardless of family income or the child's weight or exercise routine.

"It didn't matter what they added, just that they added something different like a banana to their cereal to make that meal more complete with vitamins and minerals," said lead researcher Therese O'Sullivan of the Telethon Institute for Child Health in Perth.

She and her colleagues analyzed breakfasts of more than 800 14-year-olds over a three-day period. Many skipped breakfast completely, and the vast majority ate from only one or two food groups.

Labels: breakfast, nutrition, variety